Chapter 9
HUDSON
Iwanted to remove the wood planks in the front of Angela's store. Cooper was already handling other projects, and this one was mine. I had the keys and could come and go as I pleased, but I knocked on the door and peered through the glass before unlocking it.
The next time I saw Angela in lingerie, I wanted to be alone with her. I didn't want Wynter watching my every move. I suspected she already knew how I felt about Angela with one look.
I turned on music to listen to while I worked. I got into an easy rhythm, plying each piece away from the subfloor, careful to ensure that I didn't damage any of the other planks.
I paused to admire my work and stretch my back. We'd been able to salvage a good amount of the existing floors, and I found some old planks in our warehouse that were a good match.
A key sounded in the lock, and I turned to find Angela and Ayla opening the door.
"I’m grabbing a juice from the fridge." Ayla rush past.
Angela pulled off her knit cap. "I didn't realize you were working today."
"I thought I'd get a head start on removing the damaged planks." I waved at the pile of new wood planks on the side of the room. "Those are the replacements."
She moved to inspect the new planks, placing one next to the other old boards. "I can't even tell the new from the old."
I stuffed my hands into my pockets so I wouldn't reach for her. It was hard to be in this space and not remember what she was wearing the last time I saw her. "I was able to find some older planks that were a perfect match."
"That's amazing. I didn't even know you could do that. I just assumed you'd replace the entire floor."
I rocked back on my heels. "I prefer to salvage whatever I can."
She smiled. "That's a point in your favor."
"I didn't realize you were keeping points." This back and forth felt a little like a flirtation, and it was different from the conversations I had with women at bars.
Angela dropped to her knees. "I was at Belle's bookshop yesterday, and Maverick was there to do the measurements for her new patio. There was some tension there. He accused her of being a high-maintenance client—"
I whistled.
"And she insinuated that he might not be the best person for the job. It seemed personal."
"I knew he was looking at the possibility of installing a patio. I wasn't sure it was a done deal." Maverick could be a bit of a hot head, but I'd never heard that he'd accused a client of being high maintenance before. Cooper wouldn't be happy if it got back to him.
"He said he was the only one who could work on the project."
"He prefers to take on challenging projects, ones that are unique and stretch his abilities."
"I got the sense those two have a history," Angela said as she moved over to the counter to place her jacket over it.
I chuckled. "You're kidding, right?"
Angela frowned. "There was tension, and comments were made that made me think they had something going on at some point."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Maverick was the kid getting into fights and skipping classes. Belle was the quintessential nerd with a book in her hands at all times. Back then, I think she even wore glasses. Total good girl. No way she would have given him the time of day."
Angela raised her brows. "You might not know everything about your brother that you think you do."
I sobered. "I suppose that's fair."
Ayla skipped into the room. "Are we going to the bookstore?"
"I just need to grab more stock from upstairs. You want to come with me, or do you want to stay with Hudson?"
"Stay here with Hudson," Ayla said with a smile.
"Please stay out of his way. He's here to work," Angela cautioned as she moved toward the door that led to the stairs.
"Got it." Ayla winked at me.
Angela disappeared through the door, and I heard her footsteps on the stairs.
"It's just you and me, huh?"
She bounced on her toes. "We're going to the bookstore. It opened today."
"Oh? I didn't realize that it had."
"Miss Belle said it was a soft open because of Christmas," Ayla said.
"That makes sense." I think this was the first time I'd ever been alone with Ayla. I wasn't quite sure what to do with her.
"She wants to have a party to celebrate after Christmas," Ayla said, excitement in her voice.
I knelt on the floor. "You mean like a grand-opening party?"
"Yeah, like that." She dropped to her knees next to me.
There was something about her demeanor that made me smile. "You want to help?"
Her eyes got really wide. "Can I?"
"Sure." I got out the small crowbar I used to lift planks. "I'm careful not to chip any of the other pieces. We're keeping the ones that aren't damaged."
"You're getting rid of the bubbly ones?" Ayla asked as she watched me.
I smiled at her characterization. "That's right."
Once the piece popped out, I moved it to the side where I'd begun a stack of old wood. "Then we pop in a new piece."
I handed the newer piece of wood to her.
She looked at me. "I just place it there?"
"That's right."
She carefully dropped it in the open space. “That was easy peasy."
"There's something satisfying about making everything new again," I said as the door between the stairwell and the shop opened.
"But aren't you the pipe guy? Mom said you're the plumber?"
"That's right. But my brothers and I own a contracting business, so we all do a little of everything.
If I replace the boards, we'll save a ton of money.
If it was a bigger job, we'd hire a flooring company to handle it.
" But Angela's job was small, and we were all well-versed in simple flooring installation.
Angela stepped inside with a stack of boxes.
I popped up and took them from her. "Why are you taking your stuff to the bookstore?"
"I'm selling some of my products there, and Belle said the panties are already picked over. I need to restock."
"That's great." It relieved some of the guilt I felt for not being able to get her opened before Christmas.
Angela nodded, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. "It was generous of her. Come on, Ayla. We need to get these to Belle."
Ayla stood and brushed off her jeans. "Hudson let me help."
"Oh?" Angela asked.
I nodded. "I removed the old one. She just placed the new one. She's a good helper."
Ayla stood taller and smiled. "Maybe I can help another time?"
I grinned. "Absolutely. I'm always looking for good helpers."
Angela held her hands out to me. "I'll need the boxes to take them to Belle's."
"I can take this for you." They weren't heavy, but I wasn't going to let her carry boxes down the street. My mother raised me to be better than that.
"Okay." Angela opened the door and waved me through.
I waited for her to lock the shop. Then we proceeded down the sidewalk. It was busy today, since it was the last shopping weekend before the holiday.
"It sucks to be closed, but at least I can sell a few things at Belle's."
"I didn't realize you were doing that," I said as we dodged groups of shoppers.
"A few of the shop owners stopped by on Friday and offered to help in any way they can. It was nice."
I hoped that meant she was starting to get to know the other women in town. It would be nice for her to have that support, especially when Bill was giving her a hard time.
When we arrived at the corner, customers were going in and out of Belle's shop which had balloons tied to the door so everyone knew it was open.
Angela opened the door for us, and we went inside. The shelves were lined with books, and there were display tables with books with colored end pages, and even a few knickknacks, including journals, bookmarks, fuzzy socks, and Angela's lingerie.
I set the box on the ground next to the table.
Angela immediately opened it and got to work restocking the panties and bras. I didn't feel comfortable touching the lacy things while customers milled about.
There were lace panties with different holiday designs in red and green. But it was the solid red I kept coming back to. It reminded me of what Angela wore during the photoshoot. It was daring and sexy.
Belle came over to us, her hands pressed together. "Thanks for bringing more items. They were so popular."
"I'm surprised they're selling so well in a bookstore. Grateful but surprised," Angela added.
Ayla drifted away to look at a few snow globes where the snow moved continuously.
"People were upset that your shop is closed. I gave a few your website address, but maybe you should have business cards made, so I can hand them out."
"Oh, that's a great idea," Angela said.
"You've made quite an impression in the short time you've been here. A few women said your thongs are the most comfortable they've ever worn."
Angela's cheeks flushed pink, and I was fixated on her reaction. "I only stock sexy and comfortable items."
Now my mind was whirring with questions. How did she know they were comfortable? Did she try on a bunch of different items? I desperately wanted to be part of this decision-making process.
Belle smiled. "You should put it on your website. In the About section."
Angela scoffed. "I haven't even written that yet. There's so many things to do, and I'm loving every minute of it."
"You're a saleswoman at heart." Belle's gaze flicked to mine. "Thanks for bringing her things by, Hudson."
I inclined my head slightly. "No problem. Always happy to help. This place looks great."
"Thank you. I'm excited it's finally open. This has been my dream forever." Then she sighed. "I have to help Ansel with the line." Belle moved toward the counter to help check out customers.
"I'm going to check on Ayla," I told Angela.
Angela nodded distractedly, and I moved to where Ayla stood admiring the snow globes. "You like these?"
"The snow moves on its own. I have a snow globe, but I have to shake it to get the snow to move."
"These are cool." I flipped one over, and it was heavy and expensive.
Ayla winced. "I'll ask Santa for one."